eye (2006-47)

Metro Pulse Staff

12:00 AM, Nov 23, 2006

Awesome

Local CD Review

Local CD Review

Go.

Awesome

Local CD Review

What we didn’t realize was the ease with which she would be able to accomplish all this, and more. Not only was she able to gather around her an all-star cast—
Jon Whitlock
on percussion,
Mischa Goldman
on upright bass, and
Seth Hopper
on trumpet and violin—under the moniker of Christabel and the Jons, her own voice, has come into full bloom.

On the ensemble’s newest,
Love & Circumstances
, we find DeCicco all grown up, her nostalgic lyrics cloaked in a vintage velveteen purr that’d give any top-shelf ’20s-era blues singer a run for her money. And while she’s all bathtub gin and love-letters, the band behind her dutifully swings and sways like true gentlemen, unfurling rhythms and melodies that feel as casual as sweet tea on a Sunday afternoon. (Their
au natural
aura, of course, is an illusion; Whitlock, Goldman and Hopper comprise a cross-section of Knoxville’s best-trained musicians.)

If it sounds enticing, it is. Pick up a copy of
Love & Circumstances
for yourself at Christabel and the Jons’ show this Friday, Nov. 24, at Barley’s, 9 p.m. The band’s even cuter in person, and DeCicco’s new bob is impeccable.

Local CD Review

However, to be middle-aged musically is not nearly as bad as being middle-aged lyrically. Appleford’s voice has never sounded better, and Adlin and Appleford have transformed into damn good players, with exceptional tracks like “Three Rivers Rambler” capitalizing on their skills. They also haven’t yet reached that sad, creepy, old-man-band phase, which is a very good thing.

Go.

Friday, Nov. 24:
The holiday lights of Gatlinburg have a way of hypnotizing young lovebirds into quickie, ring-pop weddings. Be warned, children: your next destination may be a
Truckstop Honeymoon
. Some sage advice? Go directly to WDVX round-about noontime to hear the band play. Do not pass chapels.

Saturday, Nov. 25:
Pretending to like football is not a legitimate reason to squander the entire long weekend sitting on your butterball. Park that baby on a bicycle and go kick some post-Turkey-Day tail at the
Busternut Alley Cat Bike Race
on Market Square.

Sunday, Nov. 26:
Oh, as if you had no choice? There’s a moment, there’s always a moment, “I can do this, I can give into this, or I can resist it,” and I don’t know when your moment was, but I bet there was one.

Monday, Nov. 27:
Is now a good time to tell you it’s over? No? OK, well, do you want to go to
Holidays on Ice
for some hot chocolate and skating? No? OK.

Tuesday, Nov. 28: The Pnuma Trio
will be playing at World Grotto tonight. Pneat.

Wednesday, Nov. 29:
If musicians are going to go by first names only, they’ve got to be more unique than
Scott & Ryan
. The duo will be accepting suggestions tonight at Manhattan’s. One vote for
Siegfried & Roy
. Oh, wait….